Stop the Hogs!

PEN Canada, the little charity that could—speak out

[ http://www.embassynews.ca/columns/2014/ ... muid=29912 ]

Jim Creskey, EMBASSY, Wednesday, 07/30/2014

It was a case of David and Goliath last week when the federal government sent two of its tax auditors to the modest walk-up PEN Canada office on Ryerson Avenue in Toronto’s Queen West neighbourhood, and it was, of course, David who got the best reviews.

PEN Canada is one branch of a large international group of more than 100 centres around the world that began in England in 1921. But for all its moral authority for freedom of expression and advocacy for threatened and imprisoned writers, the Canadian branch of the organization operates on a modest budget.

The combined annual salary of those two Canada Revenue Agency auditors (neither came from Toronto) plus their travel and office expenses likely exceeds the total of PEN Canada’s annual expenses and revenues.

But the story wasn’t really about money. It was about the Conservative government’s upping of its budget, reportedly now at $13 million, for the purpose of auditing more than 50 of Canada’s charities.

It soon became clear that at least some of those charities, in carrying out their work, had taken public positions that disagreed with the Harper government. Would the audit put a chill on the charities, preventing them from speaking out whenever they crossed the fixed assumptions of the great minds in the prime minister’s office?

Of course there was a chill. Nobody could actually prove that it was intended, but it was entirely predictable. Most importantly, it was real.

That’s what the half-dozen national journalists found out when they started following the story last week, taking a lead from The Canadian Press’s Dean Beeby. Many people working for Canada’s charities were indeed afraid to speak out.

MORE:

[ http://www.embassynews.ca/columns/2014/ ... muid=29912 ]

Another Harper Audit - Pen Canada, Freedom of Expression Charity Supported by Margaret Atwood and Yann Martel, to Undergo Political Activity Audit

From: Janet Eaton
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2014 11:11 AM

Subject: Re: Another Harper Audit - Pen Canada, Freedom of Expression Charity Supported by Margaret Atwood and Yann Martel, to Undergo ....

Dear All:

This article by Carol Linnitt, which is found on Desmog Canada website, says that the Canadian charity, PEN, that fights for freedom of expression and represents more than 1,000 writers [including Margaret Atwood, Yann Martel and supporters is the latest group identified for a political-activities audit by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

She notes that the group has been a vocal opponent of some of the Harper government´s recent policies, including the muzzling of federal scientists and the alleged surveillance of Canadian citizens as revealed through the Edward Snowden leaks...

The audit of Pen Canada is noted to be another in the on-going audits among the ranks of several other charities includes prominent charities such as the David Suzuki Foundation, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canada Without Poverty, Environmental Defence, ForestEthics, Tides Canada and Amnesty International Canada...

Environmental charities advocating on issues related to the oil and gas industry seem to be the most heavily targeted." .. according to Gareth Kirkby, a former journalist and graduate student at Royal Roads University, who also noted that the the overall result is a `chill effect,´

PEN concludes: "If it means you have to live in fear of the revenue authorities, and if it means that there are things you want to say, you feel you should say, but you feel you cannot say because of the rules, well then, what price [is] charitable registration?"

fyi-janet

It's difficult to comprehend the degree to which Harper has gone to suppress freedom of speech in this country- speech that in any way detracts from his single-minded autocratic agenda.

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Pen Canada, Freedom of Expression Charity Supported by Margaret Atwood and Yann Martel, to Undergo Political Activity Audit

[ http://www.desmog.ca/2014/07/22/pen-can ... vity-audit ]

Wed, 2014-07-23 07:00 Carol Linnitt

Pen Canada, a Canadian charity that fights for freedom of expression and represents more than 1,000 writers and supports, is the latest group identified for a political-activities audit by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The group has been a vocal opponent of some of the Harper government´s recent policies, including the muzzling of federal scientists and the alleged surveillance of Canadian citizens as revealed through the Edward Snowden leaks.

Follow(ing) revelations of mass state surveillance, Pen Canada advocated for an adoption of "International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance."

The organization also spoke out against restrictive communications protocols, implemented by the Harper government, that prevent federal scientists from speaking with the media about their research. "The federal government´s restriction on media access to publicly funded scientists have become a serious infringement on the right to freedom of expression in Canada," the group wrote on its website.

Federal auditors appeared at Pen Canada´s offices yesterday, asking to review internal documents, the Globe and Mail reports.

Philip Slayton, the group´s president, said they are fully cooperating with the audit, of which they were notified two or three months ago.

The audit places Pen Canada among the ranks of several other charities currently under audit. The list includes prominent charities such as the David Suzuki Foundation, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canada Without Poverty, Environmental Defence, ForestEthics, Tides Canada and Amnesty International Canada.

So far Physicians for Global Survival, a group advocating against nuclear weapons, is the only Canadian charity to have its charitable status revoked for being deemed too political.

As DeSmog Canada recently reported, new research done by Gareth Kirkby, a former journalist and graduate student at Royal Roads University, suggests Canada´s charitable sector has come under threat from federal policies that hinder the ability of advocacy groups to carry out their mandate.

Kirkby´s research, which included the anonymous participation of 16 charities currently under audit, confirmed charities are self-censoring due to the threat of audits, which place a strain on the groups´ resources.

Even groups not currently under audit have augmented their messaging, Kirkby found, in anticipation or fear of a potential audit.

The result is a `chill effect,´ Kirkby stated.

Environmental charities advocating on issues related to the oil and gas industry, Kirkby discovered, "seem to be the most heavily targeted."

In 2012, before the federal government announced $8 million dollars would be devoted to the investigation and audit of Canadian charities (DeSmog Canada subsequently discovered through Access to Information legislation the figure is actually well above $13 million), Prime Minister Stephen Harper was asked about environmental charities critical of government policy receiving federal funding.

He said, "If it´s the case that we´re spending on organizations that are doing things contrary to government policy, I think that is an inappropriate use of taxpayer´s money and we´ll look to eliminate it."

The CRA maintains the audits are not politically motivated, despite ongoing criticism from many groups and individuals.

The Globe and Mail reports Pen Canada has held only one or two full-time positions in recent years and, according to its latest tax records, reported just $237,000 in expenses for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

The group reported no political activities, although charities are allowed to spend 10 per cent of their resources on political activities under CRA rules. Partisan activities are off limits.

Slayton said Pen Canada has played by the rules although the CRA rules regarding political activities are unclear.

"They (the rules) are vaguely formulated," he told the Globe and Mail. "There´s a lot of room for interpretation. We´ll see what the CRA thinks."

He added the audit is a drain on the group´s resources. "This is taking up a lot of time," he said, in reference to the preparatory work they had to do before the auditors arrived. The process is expected to take months and possibly over one year.

"I refuse to let it have a chilling effect on us," Slayton said. "We are not going to have some kind of fear - about having our charitable status questioned by authorities - stop us speaking out on issues."

"If it means you have to live in fear of the revenue authorities, and if it means that there are things you want to say, you feel you should say, but you feel you cannot say because of the rules, well then, what price [is] charitable registration?"

Image Credit: Margaret Atwood by Thompson Rivers University via Flickr.